204 Tenure

This policy establishes criteria and procedures relating to academic tenure at Middle
Tennessee State University (MTSU or University).

It is important to note that the listed criteria represent minimum standards set by
the University to attain tenure. College and/or department policies relating to the
tenure process must meet the criteria as specified herein, but may exceed and be more
specific than the minimum standards required by the University. All college and department
policies will be reviewed for consistency with this policy by the Provost and approved
by the President. Approved college and department policies will be made available
online.

II. Definitions

The following are general definitions of words and terms used in this policy which
are not hereinafter specifically defined; however, the words and terms are subject
to further qualification and definition in the subsequent sections of this policy
or those of colleges and departments.

A. Academic Tenure. A personnel status in an academic department or academic program
unit pursuant to which the academic or fiscal year appointments of full-time faculty
who have been awarded tenure are continued at the University until the expiration
or relinquishment of that status, subject to termination for adequate cause, for financial
exigency, or for curricular reasons. Tenure may only be awarded by positive action
of the Board of Trustees (Board).

B. Adequate Cause. A basis upon which a faculty member, either with academic tenure
or a tenure-track appointment prior to the end of the specified term of the appointment,
may be terminated. The specific grounds which constitute adequate cause are set forth
in Section VI.

C. Financial Exigency. The formal declaration by the Board that the University faces
an imminent financial crisis, that there is a current or projected absence of sufficient
funds (appropriated or non-appropriated) for the campus as a whole to maintain current
programs and activities at a level sufficient to fulfill its educational goals and
priorities, and that the budget can only be balanced by extraordinary means, which
include the termination of existing and continuing academic and non-academic appointments.

D. Tenurable Faculty Member. A full-time employee who holds academic rank as assistant
professor, associate professor, or professor and is potentially eligible for tenure.
Although full-time non-tenurable faculty appointments are recognized by the University
(temporary, clinical track, research-track, instructional coordinator, and visiting
distinguished professor), use of the term “faculty member” in this policy applies
only to tenurable faculty positions (assistant professor, associate professor, professor)
unless otherwise noted.

E. Probationary Employment. Period of full-time professional service by tenure-track
faculty members before they have been granted tenure. During this time, they are evaluated
by the University for the purpose of determining their satisfaction of the criteria
for a recommendation for tenure. Probationary tenure-track employment provides an
opportunity for faculty members to assess their commitment to the University and for
the University to determine whether they meet its stated criteria of quality and/or
the University’s projected need. The tenure clock starts on the date specified in
the letter of appointment.

G. Academic Year. The period of time consisting of the Fall and Spring semesters.

H. Teaching. Teaching includes strategies by which information is imparted so that
others may learn, and may include, but is not limited to, a variety of techniques
including instruction, student advising and/or mentoring development of course materials,
courseware, and innovative approaches to instruction.

I. Research/Scholarship/Creative Activity. Research/scholarship/creative activity
encompasses the studious inquiry, examination, or discovery that contributes to disciplinary
and interdisciplinary bodies of knowledge and is disseminated to an appropriate audience.
Research/scholarship/creative activity may include, but is not limited to, disciplinary
and interdisciplinary activities that focus on the boundaries of knowledge, field-based
scholarship, creative activities (i.e., film-making, performances, or other artistic
creations), research in teaching and learning, and seeking grants to support such
activities.

J. Service. Service encompasses a faculty member’s activities in three (3) areas:
University service, professional service, and public service.

1. University service refers to work other than teaching and research/scholarship/creative
activity done at the department, college, and/or University level. Participation in
university service is expected of every faculty member. University service includes,
but is not limited to, participation on department, college, and university committees.
Some faculty members may accept more extensive citizenship functions, such as a leadership
role in the Faculty Senate, membership on a specially appointed task force, advisor
to a university-wide student organization, and/or membership on a university search
committee.

2. Professional service refers to the work done for organizations germane to one’s
discipline or to the teaching profession generally. Service to the profession includes,
but is not limited to, association leadership, journal editorships, articles and grant
proposal review, guest lecturing on other campuses, and other appropriate activities.
While it is difficult to define the exact nature of significant professional service,
clearly more is required than organizational membership and attendance; examples of
significant service would be that done by an officer of a professional organization
or a member of the editorial staff of a journal.

3. Public service is the University’s outreach to the community and society at large,
with major emphasis on the application of knowledge for the solution of problems with
which society is confronted. Public service primarily involves sharing professional
expertise and should directly support the goals and mission of the University.

III. Consideration for Tenure

A. Tenure Appointments

1. The awarding of tenure is recognition of the merit of a faculty member and of
the assumption that he/she would meet the long-term staffing needs of the department
or academic program unit and the university. Tenure is awarded only to those members
of the faculty who have exhibited professional excellence and outstanding abilities
sufficient to demonstrate that their future services and performances justify the
degree of permanence afforded by academic tenure. Non-faculty positions are not eligible
for tenure. Tenure appointments reside in the departments and academic program units
and are assurances of continued employment during the academic year subject to expiration,
relinquishment, or termination of tenure as set out in Section VI. Recommendations
for or against tenure originate from the department or academic program unit in which
the faculty member is assigned and should include appropriate participation in the
recommendation by tenured faculty in the department or academic program unit.

2. Tenure is awarded only by positive action of the Board, pursuant to the requirements
and procedures of this policy. No faculty member will acquire or be entitled to any
interest in a tenure appointment at MTSU without a recommendation for tenure by the
President and a positive award of tenure by the Board. No other person will have any
authority to make any representation concerning tenure to any faculty member, and
failure to give timely notice of non-renewal of a contract will not result in the
acquisition of a tenure appointment, but will result in the right of the faculty member
to another year of service at the University, provided that no tenure appeals remain
outstanding due to lack of cooperation and/or appropriate action on the part of the
candidate in completing the appeal process.

B. Tenure Process

1. Guidance through the Tenure Process

a. Faculty will be given pertinent tenure criteria with their initial appointment
and may be provided with a department or academic unit mentor. Workshops on portfolio
development, information sessions on criteria, and other support mechanisms may also
be presented for making the process and expectations clear to the tenure-track faculty
member.

b. Tenure-track faculty members will be evaluated in writing annually and separately
by their Department Chair/Director and their department tenure and promotion review
committee. Separate copies of these evaluations will be provided to tenure-track faculty,
placed in their department personnel files, and sent to the faculty member’s Dean
and to the Provost.

c. The faculty member will receive two (2) formal reviews during the tenure process:
a pre-tenure review of progress toward tenure and a final review during the sixth
(6th) year of the probationary period. The pre-tenure review will follow the process
of the final tenure review through the department and college level as outlined in
Section III. Tenure-track faculty entering with zero (0) or one (1) year of credit
for prior service will be subject to pre-tenure review in the third (3rd) year of their probationary appointment; probationary faculty entering with two (2)
or three (3) years of credit for prior service will be subject to pre-tenure review
in the fourth (4th) year of their probationary appointment.

d. Types of evidence relevant to evaluating effectiveness and contributions in teaching,
research/scholarship/creative activity, and service are identified in Section IV.
of this policy.

e. Applicants may withdraw from the tenure review process at any time.

2. Procedures for Tenure Recommendations

a. General Guidelines

(1) Consideration for tenure originates in the department or academic program unit
to which the faculty member has been assigned. Faculty members are responsible for
initiating the tenure process by the written notification to the Department Chair/Director
by the deadlines specified in the tenure calendar. Candidates for tenure are also
responsible for submitting to the Department Chair/Director the Outline of Faculty Data form and such pertinent supporting materials as are called for in Section IV.

(2) Administrators and committees involved in the review process (Department Committee,
Department Chair/Director, College Committee, Dean, and Provost) shall only submit
those materials, forms, letters, and other documentation required by the review process
outlined below. This includes letters of recommendation which should specify the performance
criteria used and explain how the candidate has or has not met those criteria.

(3) Except for the documents noted in the section above, no material can be added
to the Outline of Faculty Data or supporting materials once the department and/or
academic program unit review process has formally begun. It is important that all
participants in the review process have access to the same set of materials.

(4) Members of department and college tenure and promotion review committees shall
not make individual recommendations concerning candidates to administrators or other
committees in the review process outside committee procedures.

(1) The review process for tenure recommendations at the department and/or academic
program unit level consists of separate and independent considerations by the Department
Chair/Director and a department tenure and promotion review committee. Departments
and/or academic program units may establish a single committee for both tenure and
promotion review, or if deemed desirable and necessary, departments and/or academic
program units may create two (2) peer review committees (a promotion review committee
and a tenure and promotion review committee) as outlined in department policies, subject
to approval by the Provost and President.

(2) Department Tenure and promotion review committee. Each department and/or academic
program unit will develop written policies that cover the structure, annual election
of committee members, and operating procedures of the department tenure and promotion
review committee. A copy of these policies will be available to faculty members in
the offices of their Department Chair/Director and Dean. At a minimum, these policies
will include the following:

(a) Committee members must be tenured;

(b) All full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members in the department and/or
academic program unit are entitled to a vote on the committee membership;

(c) Non-tenure-track faculty are not entitled to vote on committee membership;

(d) Candidates for tenure and the Department Chair/Director cannot be members;

(e) A committee chair/director will be elected by the members of the committee;

(f) Whether there will be academic rank requirements for committee membership.

In situations where the staffing procedures described in the department policy cannot
be implemented (for example, in the case of an inadequate number of tenured faculty
or of specified academic rank), an alternate committee composition may be proposed
subject to approval of the Provost, appropriate Dean, and faculty senate president
prior to review of the candidate application(s).

(3) Review Process. The Department Chair/Director, after examining all materials
submitted by each candidate for tenure, then forwards the materials to the department
tenure and promotion review committee. The department tenure and promotion review
committee will separately consider each candidate’s qualifications for tenure on such
department, college, and University criteria as have been approved. After consideration,
the committee will consult with the Department Chair. If the recommendations of the
Department Chair/Director and committee are in concert, separate reports will be filed
by the Department Chair/Director and by the committee to the appropriate Dean. If
the recommendations of the Department Chair/Director and committee are in conflict,
they will meet in an attempt to resolve the conflict prior to submitting written recommendations
to the appropriate Dean. If the conflicts cannot be resolved, reports submitted to
the Dean by the committee and by the Department Chair/Director will each describe
the points of conflict.

(4) When deliberations are concluded, the Department Chair/Director and the committee
will separately notify each tenure candidate of the recommendation that has been forwarded
to the appropriate Dean. Each candidate will be afforded the opportunity to meet with
the Department Chair/Director and/or the department tenure and promotion review committee
to discuss the review process and the data upon which the decision was made. It is
the candidate’s responsibility to initiate requests for a meeting with the Department
Chair/Director and/or department committee.

(5) In the case of departments or academic program units not affiliated with an academic
college, the department tenure and promotion review committee will forward recommendations
directly to the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, who will serve as Dean for the purposes
of the review process. When conflicting recommendations result between the Vice Provost
for Faculty Affairs and the department tenure and promotion review committee, they
will meet in an attempt to resolve conflicts before forwarding recommendations to
the Provost.

c. College Review

(1) The review process for tenure recommendations at the college level consists of
separate and independent considerations by the Dean and a college tenure and promotion
review committee.

(2) College Tenure and promotion review committee. Each academic college will develop
written policies that cover the structure, election of members to terms of three (3)
years and the operating procedures for the college tenure and promotion review committee.
A copy of these policies will be available to faculty members in the offices of their
Department Chair/Director and Dean. At a minimum, these policies will include the
following:

(a) Colleges with six (6) or more departments will elect one (1) faculty member from
each department to the committee; colleges with five (5) or fewer will elect two (2)
faculty members from each department to the committee. (To provide for committee rotation,
those tenured faculty elected to serve on the first college tenure and promotion review
committee will draw numbers to determine whether they serve for periods of one [1],
two [2], or three [3] years; one-third (1/3) of the members will rotate off the committee
each year.)

(b) Committee members must be tenured;

(c) All full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members in the department and/or
academic program unit are entitled to a vote to elect their representative(s);

(d) Non-tenure track faculty are not entitled to vote on committee membership;

(e) Department chair/directors cannot be members;

(f) A committee chair/director will be elected annually by the members of the committee;

(g) Colleges need to determine whether there will be rank requirements for those
faculty members serving on the committee.

In situations where the staffing procedures described in the college policy cannot
be implemented (for example, in the case of an inadequate number of tenured faculty
or of a specified academic rank in a department), an alternate committee composition
may be proposed subject to approval of the Provost, appropriate Dean, and faculty
senate president prior to review of the candidate application(s).

Each college Dean will provide the faculty senate president with the names of those
elected to the college tenure and promotion review committee according to the timetable
specified in the tenure calendar. The Faculty Senate president, in consultation with
the Faculty Senate Steering Committee, may in turn appoint up to two (2) additional
faculty members to each college tenure and promotion review committee to ensure diversity,
which will provide for representation that reflects the make-up of the University.

(3) Review Process. Upon receipt of recommendations and other materials from the
Department Chair/Director and department tenure and promotion review committee, the
college Dean then forwards the materials to the college tenure and promotion review
committee. The college tenure and promotion review committee is responsible for: a)
consideration of each candidate’s qualifications using approved department, college,
and university criteria; and b) reviewing the tenure recommendations of the department’s
committee and chair/director for each candidate. Deans are responsible for: a) consideration
of each candidate’s qualifications using approved department, college, and university
criteria; and b) reviewing the recommendations of Department Chair/Director and department
tenure and promotion review committees for each candidate. After consideration, the
committee will consult with the college Dean. If the recommendations of the Dean and
committee are in concert, the committee will forward all materials submitted, along
with their own recommendations, to the appropriate Dean. If the recommendations of
the college Dean and committee are in conflict, they will meet in an attempt to resolve
the conflict prior to submitting formal recommendations. If the conflicts cannot be
resolved, reports submitted by the committee to the Dean will describe the points
of conflict. Deans will forward all materials submitted, along with their own recommendations,
to the Provost.

(4) When deliberations are concluded, the academic Dean and the college tenure and
promotion review committee will notify each candidate considered for tenure of their
recommendations. Each candidate will be afforded the opportunity to meet with the
Dean and/or the college tenure and promotion review committee to discuss the review
process and the data upon which the decision was made. It is the candidate’s responsibility
to initiate requests for a meeting with the Dean and/or college committee.

d. Provost’s Review

(1) The Provost will review all recommendations on tenure and forward his/her recommendations
to the President of the University, state whether the issuance of letters of non-renewal
is necessary, and prepare a list of those to whom such letters are to be sent. The
Provost is responsible for: a) consideration of each candidate’s qualifications using
approved department, college, and university criteria; and b) reviewing the recommendations
of Department Chair/Director, department tenure and promotion review committees, college
tenure and promotion review committees, and Deans for each candidate. The Provost
will forward all materials submitted, along with his/her own recommendations, to the
President.

(2) On the same date a decision is forwarded to the President, the Provost will notify
each person considered, along with the appropriate Dean and Department Chair/Director,
of his/her decision. The Provost will afford each person considered an opportunity
to meet and discuss the review process and the data upon which the decision was made.
It is the candidate’s responsibility to initiate any request to review the process
and data upon which the decision is made.

e. President’s Review

The President is responsible for: a) consideration of each candidate’s qualifications
using approved department, college, and University criteria; and b) reviewing the
recommendations of Department Chair/Director, department tenure and promotion review
committees, college tenure and promotion review committees, Deans, and Provost for
each candidate. The President will prepare a list of faculty recommended for tenure
and submit it to the Board. The President will notify candidates, Department Chair/Directors,
Deans, and Provost of his/her recommendations. When notified of official action by
the Board, the President will provide written confirmation of the Board’s decisions
to the candidates, Department Chair/Directors, Deans, and Provost.

f. Appeals

The appeals process for official review by members of the Faculty Appeals Committee
is outlined in Policy 206 Tenure and Promotion Appeals. The appeal process should commence after the Provost has rendered his/her decision
and notified the candidate of the decision. The President’s letter with the tenure
recommendation to the candidate shall be sent after the appeal process is completed.

3. Calendar of the Review Process

Each Spring semester, the Office of the Provost will issue a calendar for the tenure
review process for the upcoming academic year, which will include key dates at each
major step in the process.

a. Peers and other faculty members serving on committees that make evaluations are
expected to observe the highest appropriate standards of confidentiality concerning
deliberations. Tenure and promotion review committees have qualified privilege of
academic confidentiality against disclosure of individual tenure votes unless there
is evidence that casts doubt upon the integrity of the committee. This policy will
be interpreted in a manner consistent with the Tennessee Public Records Act, T.C.A.
§ 10-7-101 et seq.

b. In general, no such privilege is recognized for proceedings outside of the University.
The records created during the tenure process are subject to disclosure pursuant to
T.C.A. § 10-7-503, and information regarding the process may be sought by subpoena
or court order.

1. Academic tenure may be awarded only to full-time faculty members who: (a) hold
academic rank as assistant professor, associate professor, or professor and meet the
minimum rank criteria for that rank under University policies; (b) have been employed
pursuant to tenure-track appointments and have completed the probationary period of
service as stated in the University’s policy, and/or as agreed upon in writing and
signed by the appropriate academic officer; and (c) have been determined by the University
to meet the criteria for recommendation for tenure and have been so recommended pursuant
to this policy.

a. Faculty members holding temporary, instructional coordinator, clinical, or research
appointments are not eligible for tenure.

b. Faculty members supported in whole or in part by funds available to the University
on a short-term basis, such as grants, contracts, or foundation sponsored projects,
will not be eligible for tenure unless continuing support for such members can be
clearly identified in the regular budget of the University upon the recommendation
of tenure to the Board.

c. No faculty member will be eligible for tenure unless the employee’s contract specifies
his/her tenure-track status; provided that where a faculty member with tenure is appointed
to an administrative position, he/she will retain tenure in a former faculty position
only; and provided further that a faculty member otherwise eligible for tenure who
also holds a non-faculty position may be awarded tenure in the faculty position only,
subject to the requirements of this policy.

d. In general, candidates for tenure must have earned the doctorate or other specified
terminal degree in the faculty member’s discipline. The University may grant exceptions
to this standard based upon its mission or based upon an extraordinary candidate.
In the latter instance, the exception will be granted by the Provost in consultation
with the Dean, Department Chair/Director and faculty in the appropriate department
when the faculty member is employed.

D. Probationary Employment

1. Faculty members apply for tenure in the Fall semester of their sixth (6th) year, following a probationary period of not less than five (5) years. If tenure
is denied, the seventh (7th) year is the terminal year.

Exceptions to the minimum probationary period may be made under special circumstances
upon recommendation by the Dean and Provost.

2. It is the faculty member’s responsibility to initiate requests for tenure. A faculty
member’s failure to apply at the end of the probationary period and within the prescribed
due dates for submission relieves the University of any responsibility in regard to
awarding tenure, and any faculty member who fails to apply will be automatically denied
tenure.

E. Calculating the Probationary Period

Only full-time continuous service at the University will be included in determining
completion of the probationary period, except where a break in service was pursuant
to an approved leave of absence. The probationary period starts on the date specified
in the letter of appointment.

1. Credit for Prior Service. The probationary period of six (6) years may include
credit for prior service when agreed to by the Provost and subject to the maximum
permissible credit for prior service, as noted below.

Credit toward completion of the probationary period may, at the discretion of the
Provost, be given for a maximum of three (3) years of previous full-time service at
colleges, universities, or institutes provided that the prior service is relevant
to the University’s own needs and criteria. Any credit for prior service must be recognized
and confirmed in writing in the appointment letter to a tenure-track position.

2. Approved Leave of Absence. A period of approved leave of absence will be excluded
from the requisite period for completion of the probationary period unless the President
specified in writing prior to the leave of absence that it will be included in the
probationary period. Leaves of absence may not be granted retroactively. A faculty
member may apply for a maximum of two (2) extensions in one (1)-year increments so
long as the total probationary period does not exceed six (6) years. Requests for
an extension to a leave of absence follow the same procedure.

3. Stopping the Tenure Clock. Faculty members in a tenure track appointment may request
to stop the clock during their probationary period when circumstances exist that interrupt
normal progress toward building a case for tenure. Discretion for stopping the tenure
clock rests with the President and also requires supervisory approval. In such cases,
the faculty member may request to stop the tenure clock for one (1) year if he/she
demonstrates that circumstances reasonably warrant such interruption. Reasons for
approving a request to stop the clock will typically be related to a personal or family
situation requiring attention and commitment that consumes the time and energy normally
addressed to faculty duties and professional development. Examples may include, but
are not limited to, childbirth or adoption, care of dependents, medical conditions
or obligations, physical disasters or disruptions, or similar circumstances that require
a fundamental alteration of one’s professional life. The intent of this provision
is to serve the best interests of the University while providing neither preference
to nor adverse effect on a faculty member’s process of developing a case for tenure. Once approved, the stop the clock year is not counted in the probationary period accrual.

4. Procedure to Modify the Probationary Period. A faculty member seeking a modification
of his/her probationary period must submit his/her request, in writing, addressing
the considerations described above. The request is to be submitted to the Department
Chair for consideration and recommendation. The Chair’s recommendation is forwarded
to the Dean of the faculty member’s college for consideration and recommendation;
then to the Provost for consideration and recommendation; and finally to the President
for approval or denial. The President will notify the faculty member, in writing,
of the decision to approve or deny such exceptions within one (1) month of submission.
Requests for modification of the probationary period should also be submitted to the
Office of the University Counsel for review.

5. A faculty member who is appointed to an administrative position prior to a tenure
award remains eligible for tenure under two (2) conditions: the faculty member must
qualify for tenure under department or academic program unit, college, and university
guidelines; and the faculty member must maintain a significant involvement in academic
pursuits including teaching, research/scholarship/creative activity, and service.
The time (or prorated portion of time) spent in the administrative position may be
credited toward completion of the probationary period.

6. Where a faculty member is serving a probationary period in a department or academic
program unit and is subsequently transferred to another department or academic program
unit, the faculty member may, with the approval of the President, elect to begin a
new probationary period on the date that the transfer occurs. If he/she does not so
elect (and confirm in writing to the President), time spent in the first appointment
will count toward establishing the minimum and maximum probationary period.

7. Employment during Summer terms or in part-time positions will not be credited
toward satisfying the probationary period.

8. When a faculty member’s appointment begins in January, service for that semester
will be counted for tenure as one (1) whole academic or fiscal year.

IV. Criteria to be Considered in Tenure Recommendations

A. General Tenure Criteria

1. Staffing needs of each department/program and the total University are the first
priority when faculty members are considered for tenure. Staffing needs are determined
primarily by the current student enrollment, by the enrollment trends over the past
five (5) to ten (10)-year period, and by the overall mission of the department and
University. An over-staffed department or even one whose enrollment trends indicate
that it will soon become over-staffed, should not give serious consideration to tenuring
additional faculty unless retirements and/or resignations of tenured staff appear
imminent. The criteria relevant to assessing the long-term staffing needs of a department
and the University are considered significant and are stated in a generic sense as
follows: (a) mandates of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission; (b) University
mission and long-term goals; (c) college mission and long-term goals; and (d) department
academic program emphasis, specialized orientation, and long-term goals.

2. While the nature and relative importance of the criteria for recommendation for
tenure depend upon the nature, missions, and goals of the college and the department
or academic program unit, all faculty members considered for tenure will be evaluated
with respect to their performance in (a) teaching; (b) research/scholarship/creative
activity; and (c) service. They are expected to demonstrate high quality performance
in teaching, high quality performance in one (1) of the other two (2) areas and quality
performance in the remaining area.

The performance expectations for tenure will be dependent on the faculty member’s
rank. See Policy 205 Promotion of Tenured and Tenurable Faculty. In all categories of evaluation, documentation of quality as evaluated by peers
will be stressed over quantity. Within the context of teaching, research/scholarship/creative
activity, and service, the faculty member must demonstrate willingness and ability
to work effectively with colleagues to support the mission of the University and the
common goals both of the University and of the academic organizational unit.

Where departments demonstrate a clear need for additional tenured faculty, the following
are general guidelines for assessing the work and potential of probationary faculty
who are candidates for tenure:

a. Evidence of professional experience and performance in teaching;

b. Evidence of direct participation in scholarship through research and/or creative
activity;

c. Evidence of continuing direct participation in University service, professional
serviceand public service germane to their discipline.

d. Evidence of professional integrity that will ensure cooperation with colleagues
and commitment to the programs and students of the department, the college, and the
University.

B. Outline of Faculty Data and Supporting Materials

Candidates for tenure will submit a completed Outline of Faculty Data form. Candidates will also submit an orderly file of supporting materials (reprints, letters
of support, creative works, etc.). A list of these supporting materials will be attached
to the Outline of Faculty Data form. However, the supporting materials themselves will be stored in the department. Administrators
and committees involved in the review process may ask to review any or all of these
supporting materials at their discretion. Departments and/or colleges may require
additional specific supplemental documentation as outlined in department and/or college
policies, subject to approval by the Provost and President.

C. Teaching

1. Overview. All faculty members are expected to demonstrate high quality performance
in teaching. Teaching applies to any strategy in which information is imparted so
that others may learn, and may include, but is not limited to, a variety of techniques
including instruction, student advising and/or mentoring, development of course materials
and courseware, and development of innovative approaches to instruction. Effective
teaching is an essential qualification for tenure, and tenure should not be granted
in the absence of clear evidence of a candidate’s teaching ability and potential for
continued development.

2. Performance Criteria. All faculty members are expected to demonstrate high quality
performance in teaching. Although academic units of the University may assign varying
degrees of significance to individual criteria, all faculty members will be evaluated
with respect to each of the following criteria for teaching:

a. Performance in teaching of students as evaluated by students and peers;

b. Performance in the advisement and mentoring of students, if applicable;

c. Improvement of their own courses and also the curricular offerings of the department,
college, and University;

d. Effectiveness in teaching methods (including efforts to improve pedagogy with
new techniques and integration of new instructional technologies);

g. Currency and continued intellectual development in the field of specialization;

h. Seeking internal and external funding for instructional activities. Whether funded
or unfunded, the quality of the proposal will be stressed in the evaluation. Other
factors may include the reputation of the funding source and the competition for funding;
and

i. Contributions to teaching (for example, textbooks, articles, workshops, presentations,
instructional technology resources, etc.) could be appropriate here or under research/scholarship/creative
activity depending on the nature of the work.

3. Documentation

a. Supporting materials as described in Section IV.B. will, at a minimum, include
a statement of teaching philosophy; course materials; evidence of student projects
and other forms of student mentorship; and evidence of evaluation by faculty peers.

b. Student evaluations for each course section evaluated during the probationary
period will be added to the candidate’s supporting materials by the Department Chair/Director.

c. Other supporting material may include, but will not be limited to, grant proposals,
additional student input, results of alumni surveys and/or student exit interviews,
textbooks or educational articles, and innovative contributions to teaching, if published
or presented in a peer-reviewed forum.

D. Research/Scholarship/Creative Activity

1. Overview. All faculty members are expected to demonstrate quality research, scholarship,
and/or creative activity. Candidates for tenure must present evidence of their research,
scholarship, and/or creative activity when they apply for tenure. Research/scholarship/creative
activity applies to the studious inquiry, examination, or discovery that contributes
to disciplinary and interdisciplinary bodies of knowledge. Research/scholarship/creative
activity may include, but is not limited to, disciplinary and interdisciplinary activities
that focus on the boundaries of knowledge, field-based scholarship, and creative activities
(i.e., film-making, performances, or other artistic creations).

2. Performance Criteria. Although academic units of the University may assign varying
degrees of weight to each criterion, all faculty members will be evaluated with respect
to each of the following criteria:

a. Direct participation in research, scholarship, and/or creative activity. Faculty
collaboration with undergraduate and/or graduate students may be included here.

b. Seeking internal and external funding for research, scholarship, and/or creative
activity. Whether funded or unfunded, the quality of the proposal will be stressed
in the evaluation. Other factors may include the reputation of the funding source
and the competition for funding.

3. Documentation

a. The Outline of Faculty Data and supporting materials as described in Section IV.B.
above must include evidence of peer review of some elements of the candidate’s research,
scholarship, and/or creative activity.

b. Other supporting materials may include, but will not be limited to, the following:

(1) Publications (articles, monographs, books, electronic media, and other published
works). Publications that are subject to a formal review process by recognized scholars
in the field are considered more significant than those subject to less rigorous examination;

(2) Written reviews and evaluations of performances, compositions, and other creative
activities by qualified peers, either in person or aided by other forms of reports,
are considered appropriate documentation;

(3) Published programs or reviews of public performance or public display will constitute
documentation of original creative work;

(4) Presentations before one’s professional peers at regional, national, or international
meetings/conferences;

(5) Appropriate textbooks, educational articles, and instructional technology resources
in one’s own discipline and innovative contributions to teaching, if published or
presented in a peer-reviewed forum, constitute scholarship of teaching;

(6) Funded internal grants from the University or external grants from public or
private sources;

(7) Unfunded proposals for internal and external grants, where the documentation
supports the quality of the proposal.

E. Service

1. Overview. As a vital component of the University’s mission, service must be performed
at the same level of quality that characterizes the teaching and research/scholarship/creative
activity programs. Service encompasses a faculty member’s activities in three (3)
areas: University service, professional service, and public service.

a. University service refers to work other than teaching and research/scholarship/creative
activity done at the department, college, and/or university level. A certain amount
of such service is expected of every faculty member. University service includes,
but is not limited to, participation on department, college, and University committees.
Some faculty members may accept more extensive citizenship functions, such as a leadership
role in the Faculty Senate, membership on a specially appointed task force, advisor
to a University-wide student organization, and/or membership on a University search
committee. Service includes, but is not limited to, activities that contribute to
the recruitment, retention, progression, graduation, and post-graduation career placement
of students.

b. Professional service refers to the work done for organizations germane to one’s
discipline or to the teaching profession generally. Service to the profession includes,
but is not limited to, association leadership, journal editorships, articles and grant
proposal review, guest lecturing on other campuses, and other appropriate activities.
While it is difficult to define the exact nature of significant professional service,
clearly more is required than organizational membership and attendance; examples of
significant service would be that done by an officer of a professional organization
or a member of the editorial staff of a journal.

c. Public service is the University’s outreach to the community and society at large,
with major emphasis on the application of knowledge for the solution of problems with
which society is confronted. Public service primarily involves sharing professional
expertise and should directly support the goals and mission of the University.

2. Performance Criteria. Participation in University service is expected of every
faculty member. Although it is recognized that differences in emphases may exist,
evaluation of service will be based on an appraisal of the faculty member’s performance
in the three (3) areas defined above: University service, professional service, and
public service. Evaluation will be based on the following criteria, with the academic
unit of the University to which the faculty member is assigned determining the degree
of weight for each criterion. These criteria should include: community service programs;
public service consultation; University committee and administrative responsibilities;
and active contributions to professional associations. In each case, documentation
of the evaluation process and criteria used will be as complete as possible.

3. Documentation

a. The Outline of Faculty Data and supporting materials as described in Section IV.B.
above must include evidence of the candidate’s service activities.

b. Other supporting materials may include, but will not be limited to, the following:

(1) A description of the candidate’s service position that permits evaluation of
performance. This should include a statement of the mission or purpose of the position
and of the objective(s) of the candidate’s service unit, as well as the specific assigned
tasks and responsibilities of the candidate.

(2) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the candidate’s service, as judged by its
impact on individuals, groups, or organizations served. This should include indices
of the success of the service activities, in terms of improvement of communities,
programs, operating agencies, production processes, or management practices. The
evaluations should also include indications of satisfaction with the service provided
by the candidate, and of the magnitude and complexity of the work (as opposed to perfunctory
activity that does not lead to useful results).

(3) An appraisal of the candidate’s local, regional, and national stature. Although
the achievement of national stature is sometimes difficult for faculty whose service
activities are primarily directed to groups within the State, the public service professional
should take advantage of every opportunity to project his/her accomplishments among
peers on a local, regional, and national basis. Service work is sometimes not publishable.
The results may be in the form of direct consultations, planning reports, or instructional
time directed largely to the recipients of University service programs. But certain
aspects of service work are suitable for publication in professional journals. For
example, unique techniques developed to motivate clients or new approaches to the
transfer and application of knowledge would be of interest to peers in other public
service programs across the nation.

(4) Evidence of applications seeking internal and external funding for service activities;
funded grants from the University, public agencies, or private foundations; submitted
proposals for external funding by public agencies or private foundations. The quality
of the grant proposals, whether funded or unfunded, will be stressed in the evaluation.

V. Expedited Tenure Review

The University will sometimes find it necessary to expedite tenure review in order
to recruit high-quality faculty, especially when hiring for administrative positions.
In these cases, the University’s review will be based on the candidate’s curriculum
vitae rather than a traditional tenure application file. The request will originate
with the Department Chair/Director and be reviewed by the department tenure and promotion
review committee, the Dean, the college tenure and promotion review committee, the
Provost, and the President. Because recruitment is often time-sensitive, the President
will request approval from the Board through a special called meeting, if necessary.

VI. Changes in Tenure/Tenure-Track Status

A. Non-renewal of Probationary Tenure-Track Faculty

1. When tenure-track appointments of faculty are not to be renewed for further service,
applicable dates for notice of non-renewal will be based upon actual years of service
at the University and are in no way affected by any credit for prior service that
may be awarded pursuant to Section III. of this policy. Faculty members will receive
notice of their non-renewal for the ensuing academic year as follows:

a. Faculty members in their first (1st) year of service will be given notice at least two (2) months in advance of their
termination; notification will not be later than March 1 for those whose appointments
expire at the end of the academic year.

b. Faculty members in their second (2nd) year of service will be given notice at least five (5) months in advance of their
termination; notification will not be later than January 1 for those whose appointments
expire at the end of the academic year.

c. Faculty members in their third (3rd) or subsequent years of service will be notified no later than the close of the academic
year. Faculty members who have served three (3) or more years of their probationary
appointment will be provided notice twelve (12) months prior to termination.

2. Notice of non-renewal will be effective upon personal delivery by the faculty
member's Department Chair/Director of the Notice to Faculty Members form, or upon
the date the notice is mailed, by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, to the faculty member’s current home address on record at the University.
Said written notice will carry the signature of the President or designee.

3. When faculty members on tenure-track appointments complete the sixth (6th) year of their probationary period, they will either be recommended for tenure by
the President or will be given notice of non-renewal. Notice of non-renewal will be
given by the President no later than the final day of the sixth (6th) academic year. The appointment to the University will end at the close of the seventh
(7th) academic year. A faculty member's rights in such instance where timely notice is
not given are described in Section III.

4. Faculty members on tenure-track appointments will not be terminated during the
annual specified term of the appointment, except for reasons that would be sufficient
for the termination of tenured faculty.

5. The non-renewal or non-reappointment of faculty members on a tenure-track appointment
does not necessarily carry an implication that their work or conduct has been unsatisfactory.
No proprietary or other interest in a position is created by acceptance of a probationary
appointment.

6. Decisions of non-renewal of a tenure-track faculty appointment during the probationary
period are not subject to appeal to the Board unless there is an alleged violation
of state or federal law under the limitations described in Policy 206 Tenure and Promotion Appeals.

B. Transfer of Tenure

Faculty members tenured in an academic program unit (i.e., a department or division)
may be transferred to another academic program unit. In such cases, the transfer will
be made with tenure; moreover, the tenure appointment will be transferred to the new
academic program unit. In no instance may the faculty member be compelled to relinquish
tenure as a condition for effecting the transfer.

C. Expiration of Tenure

Tenure status will expire upon retirement of a faculty member. Tenure will also expire
upon the event of permanent physical or mental inability of a faculty member, as established
by an appropriate medical authority or other relevant factors, to continue to perform
his/her assigned duties.

D. Relinquishment of Tenure

A faculty member will relinquish or waive his/her right to tenure upon resignation
from the University or upon failure to report for service at the designated date of
the beginning of any academic term, which will be deemed to be a resignation, unless,
in the opinion of the President, the faculty member has shown good cause for such
failure to report. Tenure is not relinquished during periods of approved leaves of
absence or during administrative assignments at the University.

E. Termination of Tenure for Reasons of Financial Exigency

A tenured faculty member may be terminated as a result of financial exigency subject
to declaration by the Board that such financial conditions exist. Personnel decisions
(including those pertaining to tenured faculty) that result from a declaration of
financial exigency will comply with Policy 40 Financial Exigency; also see definition of Financial Exigency in Section II.).

F. Termination of Tenure for Curricular Reasons

The employment of a tenured faculty member may be terminated because an academic program
is deleted from the curriculum or because of substantial and continued reduction of
student enrollment in a field or discipline.

“Program is deleted from the curriculum” means that the Board takes formal action
to terminate a degree major, concentration, or other curricular component and that
such termination eliminates or reduces need for faculty qualified in that discipline
or area of specialization. “Substantive and continued reduction of student enrollment
in a field” means that over a period of at least three (3) years student enrollment
in a field has decreased at a rate in considerable excess of that of the University
as a whole and that such reduction has resulted in faculty-student ratios that, in
the opinion of the President, cannot be warranted either by comparison with equivalent
faculty load practices within the University or by comparisons with faculty loads
in comparable departments or academic program units at similar universities which
the President would deem to be appropriate for comparison.

Before declaring that curricular reasons exist, the President will ensure meaningful
participation by the faculty senate in identifying the specific curricular reasons,
evaluating the long-term effect on the University’s curriculum and its strategic planning
goals, and the advisability of initiating further action. Prior to initiating the
process described below, the President will present a written description of curricular
reasons that may warrant the termination of tenured faculty member(s). Subsequent
to provision of the written description, the President will meet with the faculty
senate to review these curricular reasons. The faculty senate will have the opportunity
to respond in writing to the President for action described below is initiated. Each
of these reasons for termination of tenure for curricular reasons must denote shifts
in staffing needs that warrant greater reductions than those that are accommodated
annually in light of shifting positions from one department to another or among colleges
to handle changing enrollment patterns.

G. Procedures for Termination of Tenure for Curricular Reasons

The President should deny renewal to part-time faculty, temporary faculty, clinical
track, research-track, and tenure-track faculty in the probationary period, before
termination of tenured faculty.

1. Upon determining that termination of tenured faculty members is warranted for
curricular reasons, the President will consult with the Department Chair/Directors
and Deans of affected departments concerning which terminations would least jeopardize
the educational programs of their departments. The President will base decisions about
which faculty member(s) should be terminated upon assessment as to what action would
least seriously compromise the educational programs in a department or division.
Termination for curricular reasons presumes a staffing pattern in a department or
academic program unit that cannot be warranted either by comparison with general load
practices within the University or by comparison with faculty loads in comparable
departments or academic program units at similar universities. In that light, the
President will also, at his/her discretion, base decisions on a careful assessment
of the impact of the curricular reason on staffing requirements in the department
or academic program unit as compared to overall patterns in the University and to
comparable departments or academic program units which, in his/her judgment, are in
universities similar enough to warrant assessment.

Unless the President demonstrates (preferably by means of past performance evaluations)
that an exception should be made to protect the quality of an educational program,
the following considerations should guide the President in determining the order of
faculty reductions in a department where termination of tenured faculty is proposed
for curricular reasons.

a. among tenured faculty, those with higher rank should have priority in retaining
their tenured positions over those with lower rank;

b. among tenured faculty with comparable rank, those with appropriate higher academic
degree(s) should have priority in retaining their tenured positions over those with
lower degree(s); and

c. among tenured faculty with comparable rank and comparable degrees, those with
greater seniority in rank should have priority in retaining their tenured positions
over those with less seniority.

The President will furnish each faculty member to be terminated a written statement
of the reasons for the termination. Those reasons will indicate the manner and the
information upon which the decision of which faculty members were to be terminated
was reached. The President’s written statement will also indicate that the faculty
member has the opportunity to respond in writing stating any objections to the decision.

When a tenured faculty member is to be terminated for curricular reasons, the President
will make every possible effort to relocate the tenured faculty member in another
existing vacant position for which he/she is qualified. In instances where (in the
opinion of the President) relocation within the University is a viable alternative,
the University has an obligation to make significant effort to relocate the faculty
member, including the bearing of reasonable retraining costs. The final decision on
relocation is within the discretion of the President.

2. If a faculty member to be terminated indicates objections to the President’s written
statement and requests a review, the President will appoint a faculty committee consisting
of a minimum of five (5) tenured faculty members from a slate of ten (10) tenured
faculty members proposed by the faculty senate. The committee will conduct a hearing
on the proposed termination(s). The committee will report its findings and recommendations
to the President, who will in a reasonable time, inform the faculty member(s) proposed
for termination in writing either that the decision for termination stands or that
it has been altered.

4. When a tenured faculty member is terminated for curricular reasons, the position
will not be filled by a new appointee with the same areas of specialization as the
terminated faculty member within a period of three (3) years, unless the terminated
faculty member has been offered, in writing, reappointment to the position at his/her
previous rank and salary (with the addition of an appropriate increase which, in the
opinion of the President, would constitute the raise(s) that would have been awarded
during the period that he/she was not employed).

H. Termination for Adequate Cause

A tenured faculty member, or a tenure track faculty member during the annual specified-
term of the appointment, may be terminated for adequate cause. Adequate cause includes
the following:

1. Incompetence or dishonesty in teaching or research;

2. Willful failure to perform the duties and responsibilities for which the faculty
member was employed or refusal or continued failure to comply with the policies of
the University, or to carry out specific assignments, when such policies or assignments
are reasonable and non-discriminatory;

3. Conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

4. Improper use of narcotics or intoxicants that substantially impairs the faculty
member’s fulfillment of departmental and institutional duties and responsibilities;

5. Capricious disregard of accepted standards of professional conduct;

6. Falsification of information on an employment application or other information
concerning qualifications for a position; and/or

7. Failure to maintain the level of professional excellence and ability demonstrated
by other members of the faculty in the department or academic program unit of the
University.

I. Procedures for Termination for Adequate Cause

Termination of a faculty member with a tenure appointment will be subject to the following
procedures:

1. No termination will be effective until steps four (4) through nine (9) below have
been completed.

2. Suspensions pending termination will be governed by the following procedures:

a. A faculty member may not be suspended pending completion of steps four (4) through
nine (9) unless it is determined by the University that the faculty member’s presence
poses a danger to persons or property or a threat of destruction to the academic or
operational processes of the University. Reassignment of responsibilities is not considered
suspension; however, the faculty member must be reassigned responsibilities for which
he/she is qualified.

b. In any case of suspension, the faculty member shall be given an opportunity at
the time of the decision or immediately thereafter to contest the suspension; and,
if there are disputed issues of fact or cause and effect, the faculty member will
be provided the opportunity for a hearing on the suspension as soon as possible at
which time the faculty member may cross-examine his/her accuser, present witnesses
on his/her behalf, and be represented by an attorney. Thereafter, whether the suspension
is upheld or revoked, the matter will proceed pursuant to these procedures.

3. Except for such simple announcements as may be required concerning the time of
proceedings and similar matters, public statements and publicity about these proceedings
by either the faculty member or administrative officers will be avoided so far as
possible until the proceedings have been completed, including consideration by the
Board.

4. Upon a recommendation by the Provost to the President or upon a decision by the
President that these procedures should be undertaken in consideration of the termination
of a faculty member, one or more appropriate administrators will meet privately with
the faculty member for purposes of attempting to reach a mutually acceptable resolution
of the problems giving rise to the proposed termination proceedings.

5. If no mutually acceptable resolution is reached through step four (4), the following
steps will be taken:

a. The faculty member will be provided with a written statement of the specific charges
alleged by the University which constitute grounds for termination and a notice of
hearing specifying the time, date, and place of the hearing. The statement and notice
must be provided at least twenty (20) days prior to the hearing. The faculty member
will respond to the charges in writing at least five (5) days prior to the hearing.
The faculty member may waive the hearing by execution of a written waiver.

b. A Hearing Committee consisting of tenured faculty or tenured faculty and the Provost
will be appointed to hear the case and to determine if adequate cause for termination
exists according to the procedure hereinafter described. The committee will be appointed
by the President, with recommendations coming from the faculty senate, with one tenured
full professor representing each of the following colleges: Basic and Applied Sciences,
Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Behavioral and Health Sciences, Media and Entertainment
and University College. Members deeming themselves disqualified for bias or interest
will remove themselves from the case, either at the request of a party or on their
own initiative. Members of the committee will not discuss the case outside committee
deliberations and will report any ex-parte communication pertaining to the hearing
to the President who will notify all parties of the communication.

6. The Hearing Committee will elect a chair who will direct the proceedings and rule
on procedural matters, including the granting of reasonable extensions of time at
the request of any party and upon the showing of good cause for the extension.

7. The chair of the hearing committee may in his/her discretion require a joint pre-hearing
conference with the parties, which may be held in person or by a conference telephone
call. The purpose of the pre-hearing conference should include, but is not limited
to, one or more of the following:

a. Notification as to procedure for conduct of the hearing;

b. Exchange of witness lists, documentary evidence, and affidavits;

c. Define and clarify issues;

d. Effect stipulations of fact; and

e. Any other appropriate preliminary matters.

A written memorandum of the pre-hearing conference should be prepared and provided
to each party.

8. A hearing will be conducted by the hearing committee to determine whether adequate
cause for termination of the faculty member exists. The hearing will be conducted
according to the procedures below.

a. During the hearing, the faculty member will be permitted to have an academic advisor
present and may be represented by legal counsel of his/her choice.

b. A verbatim record of the hearing will be taken and a written copy will be made
available to the faculty member for a reasonable fee, upon request.

c. The burden of proof that adequate cause exists rests with the University and will
be satisfied only by clear and convincing evidence in the record considered as a whole.

d. The faculty member will be afforded an opportunity to obtain necessary witnesses
and documentary or other evidence. The administration will cooperate with the committee
in using its best efforts to secure witnesses and make available documentary and other
evidence that is under its control.

e. The faculty member and the administration will have the right to confront and
cross-examine all witnesses. Where the witnesses cannot or will not appear, but the
committee determines that the interests of justice require admission of their statements,
the committee will identify the witnesses, disclose their statements, and, if possible,
provide for interrogatories. An affidavit may be submitted in lieu of the personal
appearance of a witness, if the party offering the affidavit has provided a copy to
the opposing party at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing and the opposing party
has not objected to the admission of the affidavit in writing within seven (7) days
after delivery of the affidavit, or if the committee chair determines that the admission
of the affidavit is necessary to ensure a just and fair decision.

f. In a hearing on charges of incompetence, the testimony will include that of qualified
faculty members from the University and/or other universities of higher education.

g. The hearing committee will not be bound by strict rules of legal evidence and
may admit any evidence which is of probative value in determining the issues involved.
Every possible effort will be made to obtain the most reliable evidence available.

h. The findings of fact and the report issued by the committee will be based solely
on the hearing record.

i. The President and the faculty member will be provided a copy of the written committee
report. The committee’s written report will specify findings of fact and will state
whether the committee has determined that adequate cause for termination exists and,
if so, the specific grounds for termination found. In addition, the committee may
recommend action less than dismissal. The report will also specify any applicable
policy the committee considered.

9. After consideration of the committee’s report and the record, the President may,
in his/her discretion, consult with the faculty member prior to reaching a final decision
regarding termination. Following his/her review, the President will notify the faculty
member of his/her decision, which, if contrary to the committee’s recommendation,
will be accompanied by a statement of the reasons. If the faculty member is terminated
or suspended as a result of the President’s decision, the faculty member may appeal
the President’s action to the Board pursuant to Policy 60 Appeals and Appearances before the Board. Review of the appeal will be based upon the record of hearing. If upon review of
the record, the Board notes objections regarding the termination and/or its proceedings,
the matter will be returned to the President for reconsideration, taking into account
the stated objections, and, at the discretion of the President, the case may be returned
to the hearing committee for further proceedings.

NOTE 1: This revised policy is applicable to all tenure actions taken on or subsequent
to July 1, 2008 for all MTSU faculty regardless of whether his/her employment began
prior or subsequent to July 1, 2004.

The definition of tenure (II: A) became effective January 1, 1984. That definition
applied only to faculty tenured subsequent to the effective date. For faculty members
tenured previous to January 1, 1984, the applicable definition of tenure will be:
“a status pursuant to which the academic year appointments of full-time faculty who
have been awarded tenure are continued at a university until the expiration or relinquishment
of that status, subject to termination for adequate cause for financial exigency or
curricular reasons (see policy adopted June 25, 1976).”